Public Relations

Communicating with Gulf and Middle East Stakeholders

Organisations working in the Gulf and wider Middle East need to understand regional communication norms and stakeholder expectations. This course covers cultural context, relationship-based communication, government and media landscapes, business etiquette, bilingual communication, social media use in the region and building long-term trust.

5 days Classroom or live online English

Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants

Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

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Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Cultural misunderstandings can derail partnerships and projects. You will learn to communicate respectfully and effectively in the region.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Cultural case studies, role plays, media landscape briefings and communication planning.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand regional cultural context
Apply relationship-based communication
Navigate government and media landscapes
Observe business etiquette and protocol
Plan bilingual communication
Build long-term trust with regional stakeholders

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

International business managers
PR and communication professionals
Government relations staff
Project managers working in the region
Executives

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Cultural awareness
Relationship building
Media understanding
Etiquette
Bilingual planning

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Regional Context

09:00–10:08Cultural values
10:08–11:00Business culture
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Business culture (continued)
11:45–12:53Case studies
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 2Relationships

09:00–10:08Trust and relationships
10:08–11:00Meetings
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Meetings (continued)
11:45–12:53Hospitality
12:53–14:00Role play

Day 3Government and Media

09:00–10:08Government landscape
10:08–11:00Media landscape
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Media landscape (continued)
11:45–12:53Social media use
12:53–14:00Briefing

Day 4Etiquette and Language

09:00–10:08Etiquette
10:08–11:00Bilingual communication
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Bilingual communication (continued)
11:45–12:53Translation quality
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 5Long-Term Engagement

09:00–10:08Stakeholder plans
10:08–11:00Partnerships
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Partnerships (continued)
11:45–12:53Review
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

Keep exploring

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The full course agenda and dates are available above. Use the session links in Dates & venues to choose a session. Registration and quotation forms require JavaScript; you can also contact our learning team directly.